Air-conditioning bed

ABSTRACT

An air-conditioning bed comprises a bed frame, a mattress placed on and supported by the bed frame, and a head panel located at one end of the bed frame. The mattress is associated with a first air-conditioning system for providing air after being conditioned to the region adjacent to the body of the user of the bed, forming an air-conditioned space. The head panel is associated with a second air-conditioning system for providing air after being conditioned to the region adjacent to the head of the user. The first and second air-conditioning systems include a thermoelectric module.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/396,958, filed Aug. 2, 2010 for Air-Conditioning Bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bed; and, more particularly, to anair-conditioning bed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

To ensure a comfortable condition during sleeping, air-conditioningdevices are generally installed in the bedroom. A conventionalair-conditioning device usually cools down or warms up the whole spacein which the air-conditioning device is installed. However, duringsleeping time, it is not necessary to cool or heat the entire roombecause most of the space is not occupied. Therefore, the conventionalair-conditioning device will cause a great amount of energy waste.Although nowadays some of the air-conditioning devices can operate at asleeping mode specially designed for overnight use, the amount of energyconsumed by the machine is still considerably large.

Moreover, air flow from the air-conditioning device has a relativelyhigh speed and low temperature, and most of the air-conditioning devicescannot adjust the flow rate and temperature of the air flow on the basisof the condition change of the sleeper's body. In particular, theconventional air-conditioning device mainly controls the roomtemperature based on a thermostat disposed in the device, so that itcannot predict and control the air temperature near the sleeper,especially when the sleeper is covered by a blanket. It will adverselyaffect the condition of the sleeper in a room with the air-conditioningdevice working overnight.

Therefore, it is desired to have a new device which can provide athermally comfortable environment around the head and body of thesleeper, while the energy consumption during sleep can be very muchreduced. It is also desired to provide a new device, with which the flowrate and temperature of the air can be varied on the basis of thecondition change of the sleeper's body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an air-conditioning bed, comprising a bedframe extending in the horizontal direction, a mattress placed on andsupported by the bed frame, and a head panel located at one end of thebed frame. The mattress is associated with a first air-conditioningsystem for providing air after being conditioned to the region adjacentto the body of the user of the bed, forming an air-conditioned space.The head panel is associated with a second air-conditioning system forproviding air after being conditioned to the region adjacent to the headof the user. Each of the first and second air-conditioning systemsincludes a thermoelectric module having a thermoelectric device.

By using the bed, the whole room does not need to be air-conditionedeven during peak summer time. Compared with traditional air-conditioningdevices, the air-conditioning bed provides the user with a closedcontact air-conditioning condition. In other words, only space adjacentto the head and body of the user is air-conditioned. As a result, morethan 95% of bedroom space is no longer cooled down or warmed up, thussignificantly reducing the energy consumed. In the meantime, the microenvironment provided by the air-conditioning bed can perfectly fit thespecific thermal requirements of the sleeper, thus creating a morecomfortable environment.

In one embodiment, the thermoelectric module of the firstair-conditioning system is housed inside the mattress, and thethermoelectric module of the second air-conditioning system is housedinside the head panel. Alternatively, the thermoelectric module of thefirst air-conditioning system can be housed inside the wall close to thebed, or placed on the floor under the bed, so as to provide a quietenvironment around the sleeper.

In one embodiment, the mattress includes a mattress body and a mattresssurface layer, air channels being arranged in the mattress body tocommunicate the thermoelectric module of the first air-conditioningsystem with holes in the mattress surface layer. The air channel ispreferably in a form of flexible pipe, and the hole is preferablyprovided with a valve for selectively closing the hole.

In one embodiment, an air layer is provided between the mattress bodyand the mattress surface layer, one side of the air layer beingcommunicated with the air channels while the other side is communicatedwith the holes in the mattress surface layer.

In one embodiment, the air channels are divided into supply channels andreturn channels. A first set of the holes communicates with the supplychannels while the other set of the holes communicates with the returnchannels. With this arrangement, supply air can be supplied from thefirst air-conditioning system to the air-conditioned space through thefirst set of holes via the supply channels, and return air can be drawnfrom the air-conditioned space to the first air-conditioning systemthrough the second set of holes via the return channels. Preferably, thereturn air is re-supplied to the air-conditioned space after beingslightly re-cooled or re-heated by the first air-conditioning system. Inanother example, the second air-conditioning system is operated under a100% fresh air supply model when the return air temperature isapproximately equal to the room temperature.

The air-conditioning bed further comprises a control system, including afirst control unit for adjusting the temperature of the air-conditionedspace as well as the flow rate of the supply air from the mattress and asecond control unit for the second air-conditioning system so as tomaintain the speed-of-contact of supply air to the region adjacent tohead of the sleeper in a certain range. Preferably, the speed-of-contactis maintained between 0.1 m/s to 0.2 m/s while the flow rate of thesupply air from the mattress is set at about 20 l/s.

The control system can be set so that the temperature of theair-conditioned space at the beginning and end of the sleeping time ishigher than that at the middle part of the sleeping time. In this way,the air-conditioned space around the user's body can be in an optimalcondition for the health of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention will befacilitated by consideration of the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the air-conditioning bed according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the side view of the thermoelectric module;

FIG. 3 shows the front view of the thermoelectric module; and

FIG. 4 shows a graph of temperature in the air-conditioned space againstsleeping time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the air-conditioning bed 100 accordingto the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the air-conditioning bed100 comprises a bed frame 1 extending in the horizontal direction. Amattress 30 is placed on and supported by the horizontal frame 1. Themattress 30 is associated with a first air-conditioning system, so thatconditioned air could be delivered to the region above the mattress 30,generating an air-conditioned space 9 above the mattress 30. In otherwords, the mattress 30 forms a so-called “air-conditioning mattress”. Ina preferred embodiment, the mattress 30, together with a blanket 5covering the body of a sleeper on the bed 100, creates a substantiallyclosed air-conditioned space 9.

In most cases, the head of a sleeper is not covered by the blanket 5. Asa result, cool air within the air-conditioned space 9 can not beconveyed to the region near the head of the sleeper. To this end, theair-conditioning bed 100 according to the present invention alsoincludes a head panel 20 located at one end of the bed frame 1. The headpanel 20 is associated with a second air-conditioning system, so as todeliver air, warm or cool dependent on the particular season, to thespace adjacent to head of the sleeper. Therefore, the head panel 20 andthe mattress 30 of the bed 100 work together, creating a thermallycomfortable zone for the sleeper. The temperature and amount of airsupplied by the first and second air-conditioning systems are preferablydetermined on the computation of predicted mean vote (PMV) and thehealthy condition of the sleeper.

According to one embodiment, the first air-conditioning systemassociated with the mattress 30 and the second air-conditioning systemassociated with the head panel 20 each include a thermoelectric module40 to provide heating or cooling functions. The thermoelectric module 40generates cool or warm air through thermoelectric effect, which is knownto one skilled in the art as the direct conversion of temperaturedifferences to electric voltage. For the sake of conciseness, theprinciples and structures thereof are omitted here. It is understoodthat the first and second air-conditioning systems can include anair-conditioning unit in other forms.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the side view and front view of the thermoelectricmodule 40 respectively. As shown, the thermoelectric module 40 includesa thermoelectric device 41 having two sides, a blower 42 connecting tothe thermoelectric device 41 and a control unit (not shown). Whencertain voltage is applied to the thermoelectric device 41, atemperature difference is created between the two sides due to thethermoelectric effect. Blower 42 is used to direct hot/cool air flowgenerated near the two sides, in order to deliver the particular airflow as needed to the region near the sleeper.

In one embodiment, the electrical and mechanical components of the firstair-conditioning system, including thermoelectric device 41, powersupply and control electronics etc., are all positioned inside themattress 30. Such configuration is shown in FIG. 1, which can help tominimize the space occupied and is helpful to provide excellent mobilityfor the bed.

However, it should be noted that those electrical and mechanicalcomponents keep running and vibrating in operation, thus producingconsiderably more noise, which is absolutely unfavorable to the sleeper.Therefore, in an advantageous embodiment, the electrical and mechanicalcomponents of the first air-conditioning system are housed inside thewall where the bed is closed to, or placed on the floor under the bed.In other words, the electrical and mechanical components are arranged ina way that they do not have direct contact with the mattress 30 of thebed, so as to ensure a quiet environment during the night. It isunderstood that the electrical and mechanical components of the secondair-conditioning system can be similarly arranged.

Referring back to FIG. 1, according to an embodiment, the mattress 30includes a mattress body 2 and a mattress surface layer 3. The mattresssurface layer 3 is perforated to allow air flowing in and out of theair-conditioned space 9. Air channels 60 are provided in the mattressbody 2, so as to communicate the thermoelectric module 40 with the holesin the mattress surface layer 3. In one example, the air channel is inthe form of flexible pipe. Preferably, the hole in the mattress surfacelayer 3 is provided with a valve, which can selectively close the holeas needed.

In one preferred embodiment, an air layer 22 is arranged between themattress body 2 and the mattress surface layer 3. The air layer 22 canbe used as an intermediate storing station between the air channel 60and the mattress surface layer 3 for storing cool air or hot airtherein, and at the same time can enable a uniform distribution of theair flow. In the case of the air layer 22 is provided, the quantity ofair channels can be reduced, so that the structure of the mattress 30 issimplified and the manufacturing cost is lowered. The air layer 22 isalso able to respond to external pressure, such that when a sleeper lieson the mattress, his weight will automatically press the air layer 22,thus pushing cool/warm air flowing from the mattress 30 through theholes in the mattress surface layer 3 to the air-conditioned space 9.

Normally, in summer, fresh room air is drawn into the thermoelectricmodules 40 and cooled down. Such air, after absorbing heat from thesleeper's body and being warmed up inside the air-conditioned space 9,is discharged to the surroundings. When the sleeper is covered with ablanket, it may not be so easy for the warm air to escape through theblanket. Furthermore, in case the room air temperature is relativelyhigh when the windows of the room are opened even during peak summer,for example over 30° C., the thermoelectric modules 40 have torepeatedly cool the room air down to a desired temperature, which maylead to significant energy consumption.

In view of this, in the present invention the air channels 60 arefurther divided into two groups, i.e. supply channels and returnchannels. In the meantime, the holes in the mattress surface layer 3 aredivided into two sets also, one set of which communicate with the supplychannels while the other set of which communicate with the returnchannels. For example, in summer, cool air from the thermoelectricmodule 40 is distributed to the air-conditioned space 9 through thefirst set of holes in the mattress surface layer 3 via the supplychannels. Moreover, air with a higher temperature from theair-conditioned space 9 is drawn through the second set of holes in themattress surface layer 3, and then return to the thermoelectric module40 via return channels.

According to the present invention, return air from the air-conditionedspace 9 is slightly re-cooled, say, by just a couple of degree Celsius,and then re-fed to the air-conditioned space 9. When the roomtemperature is higher than the return air temperature, re-cooling of thereturn air can help to minimize the energy consumed. On the other hand,when the return air temperature is more or less equal to the roomtemperature, the second air-conditioning system of the head panel 20 isoperated under a 100% fresh air supply model, i.e. always cooling downroom air to the desired temperature, say at 26° C. Therefore, athermally comfortable region around the sleeper is obtained, while theenergy consumed is kept low. In this case, it is unnecessary to cool thereturn air from the air-conditioned space 9.

According to the present invention, two control units are used tocontrol the operation of the air-conditioning bed 100. The secondcontrol unit is used for the head panel 20, and adjusts thespeed-of-contact and temperature of supply air onto the sleeper's head,preferably based on commands of the user via an interface. In oneexample, the air speed is precisely controlled so that thespeed-of-contact of the air onto the head is maintained between 0.1 m/sto 0.2 m/s.

The first control unit works for the mattress 30. It adjusts thetemperature of the air-conditioned space 9 and the flow rate of thesupply air from the mattress 30 according to the user's requirement. Thefirst control unit can include an infrared sensor 70 mounted in themattress surface layer 3 for detecting the temperature of theair-conditioned space 9. In one example, temperature of theair-conditioned space 9 is kept at around 26° C. in both summer andwinter, while the supply air temperature is set at 24° C. in summer and28° C. in winter. The air supply rate through the holes is set at around20 l/s.

With air flow supply rate at 20 l/s and a 2° C. of temperaturedifference between the supply and return air, it is estimated that atleast 60 flexible air channels, each having a diameter of 3 cm, areneeded for a single bed, provided that a sleeping human dissipates 50 Wof heat. Of course, the quantity and the arrangement of the air channelscan be freely adjusted to satisfy different needs. Furthermore, the airdistribution from the mattress surface layer 3 can be further adjustedby using valves that can selectively close the holes.

FIG. 4 shows the change of temperature in the air-conditioned space 9over sleeping time (from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am). As seen from the graph,the temperature in the air-conditioned space 9 is lower at the beginningand the end of sleep, but higher in the middle of the night. Inresponse, temperature and flow rate of air supplied during the wholenight should not be constant. In other words, it is preferable to havevariations in both temperature and air flow rate during sleeping time,which can be achieved by the first and second control units. It shouldbe noted that such profile should be individually adjusted to match thehealth, age and gender etc. of different sleepers.

Temperature control of a traditional air-conditioner is mainly based onthe thermostat inside the machine. In most cases it is not preferred toplace a bed very close to the air-conditioner. As a result, it would bedifficult and almost impossible for the air-conditioning device topredict and even control the air temperature near the sleeper especiallywhen he is covered with a blanket. By using the air-conditioning bedaccording to the present invention, it becomes possible to accuratelymeasure and control the air around the body and head of the sleeper.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications andvariations may be made in the air-conditioning bed of the presentinvention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.It is intended that the present invention covers all the modificationsand variations thereof provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. An air-conditioning bed, comprising a bed frame extending in thehorizontal direction, a mattress placed on and supported by the bedframe, and a head panel located at one end of the bed frame, wherein themattress is associated with a first air-conditioning system forproviding air after being conditioned to the region adjacent to the bodyof the user of the bed, forming an air-conditioned space, and the headpanel is associated with a second air-conditioning system for providingair after being conditioned to the region adjacent to the head of theuser, and wherein each of the first and second air-conditioning systemsincludes a thermoelectric module having a thermoelectric device.
 2. Thebed according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric module of the firstair-conditioning system is housed inside the mattress, and thethermoelectric module of the second air-conditioning system is housedinside the head panel.
 3. The bed according to claim 1, wherein thethermoelectric module of the first air-conditioning system is housedinside the wall close to the bed, or placed on the floor under the bed.4. The bed according to claim 1, wherein the mattress includes amattress body and a mattress surface layer, air channels being arrangedin the mattress body to communicate the thermoelectric module of thefirst air-conditioning system with holes in the mattress surface layer.5. The bed according to claim 4, wherein an air layer is providedbetween the mattress body and the mattress surface layer, one side ofthe air layer being communicated with the air channels while the otherside being communicated with the holes in the mattress surface layer. 6.The bed according to claim 4, wherein the air channel is in the form offlexible pipe.
 7. The bed according to claim 4, wherein the hole in themattress surface layer is provided with a valve for selectively closingthe hole.
 8. The bed according to claim 4, wherein the air channels aredivided into supply channels and return channels, and a first set of theholes communicates with the supply channels while the other set of theholes communicates with the return channels, so that supply air can besupplied from the first air-conditioning system to the air-conditionedspace through the first set of holes via the supply channels, and returnair can be drawn from the air-conditioned space to the firstair-conditioning system through the second set of holes via the returnchannels.
 9. The bed according to claim 8, wherein return air isre-supplied to the air-conditioned space after being slightly re-cooledor re-heated by the first air-conditioning system.
 10. The bed accordingto claim 8, wherein the second air-conditioning system is operated undera 100% fresh air supply model when return air temperature isapproximately equal to the room temperature.
 11. The bed according toclaim 1, further comprising a control system including: a first controlunit for adjusting the temperature of the air-conditioned space as wellas the flow rate of the supply air from the mattress; and a secondcontrol unit for the second air-conditioning system so as to maintainthe speed-of-contact of supply air to the region adjacent to head of thesleeper in a certain range.
 12. The bed according to claim 11, whereinthe speed-of-contact is maintained between 0.1 m/s to 0.2 m/s.
 13. Thebed according to claim 11, wherein the flow rate of the supply air fromthe mattress is set at about 20 l/s.
 14. The bed according to claim 11,wherein the control system is set so that the temperature of theair-conditioned space at the beginning and end of the sleeping time ishigher than that at the middle part of the sleeping time.